Viola McLaughlin

Viola Elizabeth (Mills) McLaughlin was born March 27, 1914, to John and Mary (Rodenbough) Mills in Woodbine, Iowa. Soon after her birth the family moved from Kansas to Iowa by covered wagon and train. She lived on the family farm north of Woodbine and attended country school. Viola graduated from Woodbine High School in 1931 and taught country school for six years. Former Twiner columnist and former student of Viola's, Lou Waite, wrote two articles, October 6, 1966, and February 1, 2006, about her experiences attending Lincoln #7 with Viola as her teacher. Also during Viola's estate sale in October of 1996, two more of her former students came to visit with her and brought their report cards dating back 60 plus years. On June 7, 1937, Viola married Howard McLaughlin at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Woodbine. They resided in Woodbine for their entire married life of 47 years. Howard ran the Champlain gas truck delivering gas and oil to farmers and residents of the Woodbine area while Viola took care of the books. Viola and Howard spent the winters in Tucson, Arizona near their son from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s. After Howard's death in 1984 Viola spent the winters in Montrose, Colorado near her daughter. Viola permanently moved to Montrose in October 1996 where she resided until her death.

While living in Woodbine, Viola was so proud of her roses. She enjoyed gardening, reading, collecting miniature pitchers, and had a passion for playing canasta wherever she lived.

Viola died November 22, 2010, at San Juan Living Center in Montrose, Colorado at the age of 96 years, 7 months and 26 days.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard McLaughlin; three brothers, Fay, Orville, and Everett Mills; five sisters, Eunice James, Dorothy Ghan, Gladys Cooper, Grace Runyan, and Eva Mills. She is survived by her son, David (Ruth) McLaughlin of New York City, New York; her daughter, Diane (Charles) Balk of Montrose, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Richard McLaughlin, Kenneth McLaughlin, Rose Neale, Alisan Kavoorkjian, Benjamin Balk, Erin Hufford, and Nathan Balk; twelve great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial
10:30 am Saturday, November 27, 2010
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Woodbine, Iowa

Celebrant
Rev. Howard Fitzgerald

Musicians
Mary Kay Eby
Angie Pryor

Pall Bearers
Kenneth McLaughlin ~ Richard McLaughlin
Ben Balk ~ Nathan Balk
Brett Hufford ~ Dwight Mills

Final Resting Place
Woodbine Cemetery
Woodbine, Iowa